[mythtv-users] Comcast goes Mpeg4 in Atlanta

[Nick Rout]

On Mon, Jun 8, 2015 at 10:22 AM, Gary Buhrmaster <gary.buhrmaster at gmail.com>
wrote:

> On Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 9:50 PM, david brooke <david2012brooke at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> .....
> > Has anyone asked about the quality of the mpeg4? Depending on the video
> bit
> > rate, etc...the quality can be effected.
>
> As one might expect, Comcast is not committing to anything
> (just as they never committed to anything IRT MPEG2 quality).
> Reports from the test market (Augusta) were minimal, and
> anecdotal in nature.  My WAG is that the quality will be
> targeted as being very slightly better to avoid people being
> able to blame Comcast for turning the picture to crap (due
> to this cut over), and to still get the maximum benefit (in
> bandwidth savings) from the changes.  But as is well known,
> video "quality" has some subjective components, so I have
> no doubt some people will see the changes differently.
>
> If someone has the interest (Mr. Brooke?), and can find a
> MythTV user in Augusta, one might be able to get samples
> for (the same) content that is still broadcast in other markets
> in MPEG2, and do the comparison (for scientific studies
> only, no copyrighted material would be viewed for human
> consumption :-).
>


As you have said, there are a lot of caveats and subjective elements, but I
think experience has shown that the same quality should be achievable in
approximately 50% of the bitrate.

Of course there is nothing to stop comcast starting with a highish bitrate
so that people are impressed by the new codec, then slowly ramping it down
over time in the hope that no one notices.
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